Scion of King signs up with Sharks

Mojave King. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES
Mojave King. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES
The Southland Sharks have signed one of Australasia’s brightest prospects for the 2022 season.

Mojave King has inked a deal with the franchise just over a week out from the start of the New Zealand National Basketball League.

Mojave is the son of Nuggets great Leonard King.

He was born in Dunedin and spent the early part of his life in the city before moving to Australia with his family.

The 19-year-old 1.95m shooting guard is in the final week of the regular season for the Adelaide 36ers in the Australian NBL as part of the league’s Next Stars programme, designed to develop NBA Draft prospects.

King said the opportunity to play under Sharks coach Rob Beveridge was a key factor in his decision.

"The biggest thing for me is developing and getting better and I’m still young and have got a lot to learn and soak it all in," he said.

"I was looking at where I wanted to be in this Australian NBL off-season and my Dad was big on making sure I was under a great coach and learning from him and developing every day," King said.

King, who is on the radar of NBA scouts, elected to take the less-travelled path and play professionally in the NBL rather than through the American collegiate system.

"College is great but the only way to get pro experience is to actually play professionally.

"All it really takes is exposure and performing when you get given that opportunity and then anything can happen from there," King said.

Beveridge is delighted with King’s decision

"He has elite athleticism, a high skill level and very good basketball IQ so he ticks all the boxes.

"Our job is to put him in an environment to excel," Beveridge said.

King is scheduled to arrive in Invercargill next week and will be on a crash-course ahead of the season-opener next Friday.

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